As a not-for-profit, member-owned credit union, we put our members first. We offer products and services to support over 1 million veterans and their families through every stage of life.
• 24/7 access to a stateside member rep
• Digital banking*—anytime, anywhere
• More than 300 branches worldwide
Learn more at navyfederal.org.
I did the last year of my bachelors degree online with a course overload. The best thing I did for my sanity is to take it one course at a time. I did the one for one class one day and it really made a difference. At the same time, be clear about when you need to take a break. In an attempt to finish early, I took classes during a PCS, which was already stressful. Take it easy and communicate with your online professors.”
— Sierra R.
“Online
are
formal
face-to-face. Writing responses will also take more time than talking would, so schedule enough time in your week. It’s best to write responses on Word and then copy and paste into the class portal. You will be graded on style as well as content. You will also be expected to cite any research, especially in
—“As an online adjunct instructor, I recommend that people actually buy the textbook for the class. You would be surprised how many skip this. Second, I also recommend that students not to wait to the last minute to do the assignments. Computer issues can arise and then assignments are not uploaded. Finally, do your best on research based essay assignments. If it calls for 3 pages, turn in 3 full pages. Don’t turn in 2 1/4 pages.”
— Betsy R.Liz A.
Always print a physical copy of your syllabus. If you have any issues logging in, you will at least know what assignments are due and when.”
— Marla B.
by Brunella Costagliola
Military Families Magazine by AmeriForce Media, LLC, is published 12 times a year for active duty service members and their families. Copies are available through participating family service centers, relocation offices, transition offices, base lodges, libraries, daycare centers, MWR activities and other locations by request. Unit distribution requests can be made online at www.AmeriForceMedia.com/ mf/print-magazines/
Individuals can order a free digital edition of this issue at www.AmeriForceMedia.com/ mf/subscribe-free/
Editorial comments can be emailed to Editor@AmeriForceMedia.com
Military Families Magazine is published by AmeriForce Media, LLC, Bloomington, Indiana, a private company. Information and advertisements in this publication do not constitute endorsement by any branch of the military or the Department of Defense. No part of this publication may be copied without the express written permission of the publishers. AmeriForce Media, LLC, the publishers, and publisher’s agents make no endorsement of any advertised services or products and none should be inferred.
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Last summer, the Department of Defense released proposed changes affecting the transferability portion of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The announcement states that eligibility to transfer those benefits will be limited to service members with less than 16 years of total service (active duty service and/or selected reserves as applicable). Veteran service organizations, like Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), called the policy change unacceptable, stating it “ultimately hurts our military recruitment and readiness,” according to a press release.
IAVA, an organization with 450,000+ members, has long advocated for protection of what they consider an earned education benefit for the Post9/11 generation. As part of continued efforts to #DefendTheGIBill, the group’s Chief Policy Officer, Melissa Bryant, delivered a petition with over 54,000 signatures to the Pentagon. She says the petition will remain open until the Department of Defense rescinds these recent changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill transferability policy.
is a freelance writer, Accredited Financial Counselor® and retired Navy spouse from Bainbridge Island, Washington. She received her accreditation as an AFC through the FINRA Military Spouse Fellowship program.
is a military spouse, mom of four kids, and the voice behind the Seasoned Spouse blog at www.SeasonedSpouse.com. She authored the book Welcome to Rota to help military families living overseas. Her favorite places to travel are in Europe, but she’s happy being anywhere that her family is together!
is an award-winning author and best-selling editor. She received the Silver Medal from the Military Writers Society of America for her children’s picture book, My Dad Got Hurt.
What Can I Do? Helping Military Children
Cope with a Brain-Injured Parent. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking traditional Italian cuisine, and taking pictures of her two resilient military children. She is a proud Air Force wife.
is an Army Wife and mother of three. She is the published author, freelance writer and blogger. She is also the co-founder of The Bautista Project, a custom décor and apparel company using a percentage of their profits to provide for homeless communities.
has more than 10 years of experience in reporting and creative writing starting with a BA in English-Writing from Fort Lewis College, being a part of an award-winning journalist team at Lahontan Valley News, to a MA in English-Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. She currently calls D.C. home, but forever longs for the crisp air of the Rocky Mountains.
is a Marine Corps veteran of 13 years currently living on a converted school bus on eat, pray, love time. As a former Special Operations Marine for over 10 years, many of his quirky thought processes and viewpoints have created a unique perspective on current affairs. Known for never being there when you look for him, but always there when you need him, he enjoys spending time (seriously) with his wife and four children outdoors, being a true father and role model, and getting the most out of everything.
Students face unlimited options when choosing where to invest their education dollars and how they plan to attend school. From online to hybrid to brick-and-mortar, colleges have adapted programs to the fast-paced lives of today’s nontraditional students—including service members, veterans, and military spouses.
A new platform is offering military-connected students a chance to find out which school offers the very best outcomes for their needs.
Adam Davies
is a West Point grad who comes from a military family with a long history of service. He spent countless hours in uniform counseling soldiers on their post-military plans before eventually making the transition himself. He launched Vet it in 2018 to provide veterans and military spouses with an exclusive place to review student and employee experiences at specific schools and companies. The tool will empower those pursuing education and employment opportunities to make an informed choice.
Begin with the end in mind. Research what industries, functions, and companies you want to be a part of when you complete your education program. This may actually be the most difficult part, and is why we are building Vet it
It may be intimidating, but accept the challenge head on. Don’t just be an industry, function, or employer brand ‘snob’ with a superficial understanding of what organizations and functions actually do to earn customers and make money. That’s what our less serious peers do. Instead, identify the major professional associations of the industries and functions you’re interested in. Get their literature. Read up on them enough to ask directionally smart and interesting questions that will help you find something you can take real professional interest in.
Get off your couch, attend their meetings and network in person, and decide what you think. After you’ve done that for the two or three industries and functions you’re most interested in, go out and identify the degree or certificate programs that can position you as a serious professional within that industry.
the
Assess its alumni network, graduation rates, retention rates, transfer rates, post-graduation earning potential, accreditation, and the transferability of its credits. How much would you have to pay out of your own pocket? Does it participate in the yellow ribbon program? Is there a vibrant student vet community? Consider that, as veterans, we have a marketing bullseye on our backs because of GI Bill benefits. We know this is true instinctively because of how commonplace it is for organizations to characterize themselves as ‘friendly’ or the ‘best for’. When we see that, we should ask ourselves if those terms are mere puffery, or if they actually mean something.
If they are like most of us, they’ll be biased towards their alma mater. That’s okay, just be aware of the bias and ask them not to sugar coat their experience or its objective outcomes. Vet it prompts community members with questions designed to tease out what a student’s expectations were and how well the program delivered on those expectations.
Peers are able to offer us insights into a world we have not yet been a part of. Sure we know what emotions a school’s espoused ideals and marketing efforts evoke in us, but the real power of a school’s brand lies in the attitudes and opinions of
its students and alumni. How have their various experiences measured up to their expectations? What exceeded? What, if anything, fell short? What were they surprised by? Now that they have insider knowledge, what do they wish they had known before applying?
Nothing is more powerful in informing our expectations and decisions than a trustworthy insider insight... EXCEPT a hundred of those insights aggregated in meaningful ways!
By Andrea Downing Peck
For the first time in history, one branch of the military — the Coast Guard — faced a frightening reality when the mid-January went unfunded during the nation’s longest partial shutdown of the federal government. Not surprisingly, many Coast Guard families struggled to pay their monthly bills.
Even when paychecks arrive on time, only 39 percent of Americans surveyed by Bank Rate say they could pay an unexpected $1,000 bill. Almost one in five would finance an unexpected expense, such as a car repair, with a credit card and pay off the balance over time; 12 percent would borrow from family or friends; and 5 percent would take out a personal loan.
In theory, military families should have three to six months worth of living expenses stashed away
in an emergency fund to cover the unexpected. But the reality of military life makes saving difficult. When asked on a personal-financerelated Facebook page to name the biggest money challenges they face, military members and their spouses provided Military Families magazine with more than 100 responses. Here is a sampling of the issues they outlined.
l “Most of the struggling families I know struggle because a) the spouse can’t find a job, b) if they do find a job, they wouldn’t make enough to justify the cost of daycare or they’d break even, or c) they’d be losing money due to cost of child care before and after school and during the summer.”
l “The constantly screwed-up pay and backpay that is promised but never comes or takes months on end.”
l “One HUGE issue is lenders and loan companies approve anyone military. I think back to my husband’s Navy Federal Credit Union card (Green card of doom). I have not seen a young service member declined on an auto loan.”
l “With moving every 2-3 years, it’s difficult to predict paychecks. It takes a few months after a move to be reimbursed for move expenses so paychecks are very up and down. This is especially true if you’re moving from CONUS to OCONUS (or vice versa), or to or from an area with COLA.”
l “Living overseas can be difficult for a lot of families. You are living on one income, yet you have almost the same amount of bills as you did with two incomes (house, car, student loans, etc.).”
l “Younger military families aren’t educated on finances and living on a budget, while being pushed to get credit (Star Card, we-approve-anyone car dealerships all around Army towns, etc.) while juggling young kids and one income due to lack of career opportunities for spouses.”
Nick Hernandorena has moved up the ranks during his 15 years in the Coast Guard, entering as a Seaman Apprentice (E-2) and rising to lieutenant (0-3). Yet Hernandorena credits the lessons he’s learned about personal finance rather than his career trajectory for his ability to weather the government shutdown.
“Proper financial education, whether in public schools or in the beginnings of one’s military career is essential in preparing our current and future service members for financial success,” he said. “Living below means is huge… Simply put, many of us weren’t really taught about finances, and we’ve relied on peers and family for guidance. Ultimately, the blind leading the blind.”
Step 1: Spend less than you earn. To do, you should first create a budget that tells you where your money is going. Army spouse Kate Nixon Anania, author of Twenties in Your Pocket: A 20-Something’s Guide to Money Management, admits most people “freak out” when told to create a written budget because they believe “it is going to tell you all the things you are doing wrong.”
In fact, the opposite can be true. A budget can provide freedom to spend once you know where your money is going each month. When living in Washington, D.C., on a meager income, Anania says she beat herself up any time she spent money on cabs. Once she created a budget and included cab fare in her expenses, Anania said, “It was super freeing. All the sudden I never had to feel guilty again.” Because budgets aren’t one-size-fits all, she suggests taking a “budget personality quiz” – available in her book and online – to determine the type of budget that best fits your money habits.
Step 2: Automate your finances. Put your personal finances on autopilot by automatically paying your predictable monthly bills (rent/mortgage, utilities, credit cards, cell phone, etc.) from your checking account while also funneling money to savings.
Kevin Mack, an Air Force Reserve officer, is the author of Call for F.I.R.E.: The Military Millennial’s Guide to Financial Independence and Early Retirement. He has established more than a halfdozen targeted savings accounts, each designated for a specific purpose such as vacations, charitable giving, car replacement/repair, son’s activities, individual spending, etc., with automated monthly deposits to each account.
“Automate where all your money goes,” he said. “That applies to any goal you’ve got such as retirement savings or something minor. Automate your savings based on your budget so you don’t have the ability to deny yourself the ability to save.”
Step 3: Build an emergency fund. Start small. Begin by setting aside an amount equal to your car insurance deductible – typically $500 – so an accident won’t leave you in debt. Then slowly build your emergency
savings to match one month of living expenses or more. Anyone planning on exiting the military should also create a “transition fund.”
Step 4: Don’t ignore your debts.
One way to ruin your credit is to pretend bills can be ignored. Anania points out it is better to make a small payment on a student loan, cell phone or other bill than to pretend it doesn’t exist.
“If you can’t afford the full payment, if you have $5, it is so much better for your credit to send in $5 and call them and say ‘I am making a good faith effort to pay this off. I am not ignoring you,’” Anania stated. “A lot of times people say, ‘I can’t afford this. I’m not going to pay.’ That’s when your credit gets ruined or your lights get turned off.”
Step 5: Eliminate debt.
Mack endorses the debt snowball strategy, which pays off debts in order of smallest to largest. Pay as much as possible on your smallest debt while making minimum payments on larger debts. When the smallest debt is paid in full, roll the money you were paying on the first debt to the next smallest balance. Keep going until all debts are paid off.
If you are tempted to go back into debt, remember that every dollar borrowed ultimately costs $1.15 or more. According to the Federal Reserve, credit card holders with accrued interest paid an average interest rate of 15.32 percent in 2018. If your credit is poor, you likely paid more.
Step 6: Save early. The magic of compound interest means someone who saves $100 a month for 10 years starting at age 25 will see their $12,000 investment increase to $96,295 (given a 6 percent annual return) at age 65. An investor who waits until age 35 to begin saving the same amount over 10 years would end up at age 65 with $53,771, more than $42,000 less.
Step 7: Maximize your savings.
If deployed to a designated combat zone, take advantage of the DOD Savings Deposit Program that offers a guaranteed 10 percent annual return on up to $10,000 in savings. Interest accrues for up to 90 days after return from deployment.
“There are huge financial incentives while you are deployed, between not paying federal taxes, family separation, hostile fire, hardship duty pays and the Savings Deposit Program,” Mack said. “That’s a huge tool whether you use it for savings or to pay off debt.”
Step 8: Maximize your retirement savings. If enrolled in the Blended Retirement System, pocket the free money. That means contributing 5 percent or more to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), which will net you the DOD’s full 4 percent match plus the 1percent automatic contribution, for a total 5 percent match of your basic pay. Consider increasing your TSP contribution 1 percent every time you receive a pay raise due to an annual military pay increase, promotion or length-of-service pay boost.
As your finances improve, consider opening a Roth IRA. In addition to providing taxfree income in retirement, a Roth IRA provides unique flexibility. Contributions can be withdrawn penalty-free at any time. If contributions have been in an account for five years or more, both contributions and earnings can be withdrawn penalty and tax free when used toward unreimbursed medical expenses (exceeding 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income), education expenses, in the event of permanent disability, or as a down payment (up to $10,000) toward a first home purchase. Setting up a Roth IRA for a nonworking spouse can help couples maximize retirement contributions if frequent PCS moves limit a spouse’s ability to maintain his or her career.
Step 9: Get educated. In addition to financial counseling services available through military relief societies and installation-based programs, Military OneSource (800-342-9647), USAA Educational Foundation (https://usaaef.org/) and Military Saves (https://militarysaves.org/) offer personal finance education and advice as do numerous military bloggers and authors. Mack says the secret to financial independence is simple. “Spend less than you earn, stay out of debt, put your money to work,” he suggested. “The specifics of where you put your money to work gets complicated but not that complicated. Nobody needs an advance degree to figure out how to manage their money.”
One way to make fewer money mistakes is to learn the basics of personal finance.
Signing up for online classes can be an exciting step towards your goals, but it can also be intimidating — particularly if you are not used to online classrooms. The tools listed here are essential for online students. Some are required to participate in virtual classes, while the apps or websites are useful for streamlining your work. Get ready to be a productive online learner!
Microsoft Office Suite is essential for every student, whether their classes are online or in a traditional setting. Yours should include updated versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Microsoft OneNote is useful for keeping notes and class materials organized in one place. Text, links, and images stored there can be searched, copied, and pasted as needed.
Adobe Reader is necessary to open and read PDF documents. The free version is fine for most students, although upgrades may be required for specific classes.
Adobe Flash Plug-In is important if your class has any online lectures. The free version is probably already on your computer. But you’ll need to make sure it is updated so you can watch videos on your computer.
All-in-one printer that can print, scan, and make copies will be useful for many online courses. Even though most materials and textbooks can now be accessed online, you may find it easier to print out the class syllabus and some of the reading materials, and you may need to scan or copy notes for some assignments.
Noise-canceling headphones can help you focus on your classwork at home or in distracting locations. If they have a built-in microphone , they can also be used for class discussions or webinars.
Flash drive or thumb drive is essential, not only to back up your work, but also to transfer it to other devices as needed. Many assignments will be too large to email.
Portable charger for your phone or laptop, so you can get work done anywhere — at the library, coffee shop, airport, or on the sidelines of the Little League game.
Calendar or planner apps such a MyHomework can help you organize your assignments by task and by due date, so you don’t fall behind. You can even set reminders that will appear on your phone or email telling you to log in to a discussion, post a comment, or complete a project.
Bibliography apps like EasyBib or BibMe can help you create a bibliography for your papers. Any time you use an outside source, it will need to be cited. But formatting varies depending on the type of class. These apps help you create a properly-formatted citation that you can drag and drop onto your paper.
Note-taking apps like Evernote , Notely , or Todoist allow you to create unlimited pages of checklists, tasks, assignments, due dates, schedules, etc. You can upload images and links directly into the app, storing them in one organized place, so you will have access to them anywhere you need to get work done.
Trello allows users to create boards containing lists, tasks, assignments, links, and more. Part of its appeal is the drag and drop capability, allowing you to move tasks from a “To-Do” board to a “Completed” one.
Rocketnote lets you upload your hand-written notes, and it converts them into text that can be transferred into documents or other note-taking apps.
Voice-recording apps like Audionote or QuickVoice Recorder allow you to dictate notes that can be converted into text. Use them to transcribe lectures or your own brainstorming. Once converted, they can be searched like a traditional text document.
Google forms from the Goodle Drive app allow you to create documents that multiple people can edit in real time. This is perfect for group projects and discussions for online students scattered around the world.
Anki lets you create flashcards to help you learn new facts, vocabulary, or even a foreign language. It’s a great study tool for memorization.
Brain.fm has music that is scientifically chosen to help you be productive and get more done. Try it out when you need the perfect background track to write your next assignment.
Freedom is a program that will block distracting social media apps on all your devices. You can get more homework done if you stay focused and don’t keep checking your phone for notifications.
Purdue Owl is a free writing resource website that helps you properly format citations and check the grammar in your written assignments.
Academic Research sites, such as ISeek, InfoMine, Paperity , and InfoPlease give you access to published academic papers, encyclopedias, and thousands of trusted sources for academic research.
Grammar-checking sites, such as Write Check or Grammarly , will help you clean up your writing so you submit your best work.
EndNote will help you organize your references and create proper citation format for your notes and bibliography.
UnPlag checks your submissions for plagiarism, so you can verify your work is original and decide when you need to cite a paraphrased idea.
IFTTT.com can be used to send you a text whenever your Gmail account gets an email from a specific person. This is a useful way to stay current on emails from a professor or group project.
Tutor.com offers free online tutoring for military families. Their experts include college-level subject experts who can assist with math, writing, and science assignments. If you are struggling, you will benefit from the guidance of a free tutor.
Every college credit earned equals a whole lot of time and some hard-earned dollars, so it makes sense that students want to hold on to what is rightfully theirs. Cue a PCS move, or some life circumstance that forces you to change schools, and there is a likelihood you will lose those credits in translation. This scenario is frustrating for several reasons, including setting you further back from completing your degree or program.
It is up to you to serve as an advocate for your college education, which means taking certain steps for what may be the inevitable in this on-the-go military life: relocation.
Here are four tips for protecting your college credits in the event of a PCS move
A school’s accreditation determines its value in the world. Simply finishing a degree at one college may not hold the same weight as having your name attached to another, and that factor is important in qualifying for financial aid and standing out to an employer. Why?
Agencies are forged with evaluating the quality of the education provided by a postsecondary institution. “Accreditation” is review of the quality of higher education institutions and programs, according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
There are several ways to research a school’s accreditation, such as through the Department of Education or CHEA
Maintain copies of your course syllabus and a course catalog for the year you started at the college.
While the names of a course may vary from institution to institution, the core of what is taught within those classes is likely similar. Saving a syllabus for each course serves several purposes:
• It is helpful for building a resume later because it outlines exactly what you learned, and
• It is a tool to help you make the case at your next school about what the curriculum entailed.
Create a portfolio for courses that includes the official description of the course, the syllabus, and your instructor’s contact information. Also, save a copy of the course catalog from the year you entered the institution.
Choose a school with proper accreditation.
As soon as a military family hears whispers of moving orders, there are traditional steps we take. Checking out housing, doctors, jobs, and schools for our kids may be among the areas researched. Expand that PCS checklist to include college options, whether that be brick and mortar or online is completely up to you. Though, at some duty stations, in-person colleges may be limited so it may be time to consider virtual learning.
Either way, when researching schools you can always speak to an academic counselor before committing to find out how many of your college credits will transfer, and read the policy on credit transferability to know your options and rights ahead of time.
Military life is full of enough unknowns that when we are gifted with a ‘known,’ it can help with making certain decisions. Among those likely components of this lifestyle is moving, which can in fact happen every few years. Picking the right school is important for many reasons, including what value that education will hold in your future aspirations and career.
If you are initially told a course won’t transfer to your new school, don’t give up. Make the case for yourself by requesting to speak with a school administrator and presenting your evidence (as referenced in point number two).
It is possible that your new school doesn’t have a full understanding of your course curriculum, and you need to advocate for the course transfer. And, if you are stationed near an installation, enlist the assistance of the base education centers or student veteran’s representative at the new school.
Going back to school was always something I wanted to do, but the moving that comes with being a military wife made it seem like an impossible feat. As the years went by, the thought of being financially and academically responsible, while taking time away from my family was something that stifled my goal of receiving a higher education.
I was hesitant to apply for college because I didn’t know what I wanted to do. Well, I knew what I wanted to do, but I didn’t know how to go about it. As a military spouse, I constantly heard about programs that will help with the cost of school, but I wondered how to complete a program without the physical stability of living in one place throughout the duration of my studies. Today, there are so many ways to complete courses no matter what your zip code is, such as online and hybrid options.
After applying for school, attending classes and finally graduating, I have some tips to share that worked for me — and can work for you.
There are a plethora of schools contending to meet your academic needs. Firsts things first. What are your academic needs? There are a few questions you’d want to ask yourself in order to determine this.
l Have you previously attended school and have college credits that need to be transferred?
l Is there a specific degree or educational field you are seeking?
l Also, what are you time constraints when attending school?
The answer to these questions will help you decide which school is right for you. Some schools offer degree programs that others may not. If you have credits from another college, find out if they will be accepted at the college you are hoping to attend. You’d be surprised, but not all colleges accept similar course credits from other schools, and some will even accept them but may consider them as an elective.
Also, choosing to attend school at a convenient time is probably one of the most critical aspects of successfully completing your degree. Maybe going to college at a physical location isn’t convenient for you right now. Try looking into schools that allow you to complete the same program online, or in a hybrid mix that is a little in person and mostly online.
Then there’s the topic of actually paying for the program. You may be eligible for Pell Grants, Army Emergency Relief (AER) grants, MyCAA funds (limited to specific ranks and programs), subsidized and unsubsidized loans, or scholarships.
I will admit, if you want to get a large amount or all your schooling paid for, this category will require some research. For example, Army spouses like myself quality for the Spouse Education Assistance Program through AER. For those of you affiliated with other service branches, each has its own offering some type of financial aid assistance.
Then there are scholarships , which are like getting free money because you are not required to pay it back. All you have to do is meet the organization’s requirements, provide previous educational documentation, and possibly complete an essay or an interview. Simple enough, right? Check out Scholarships for Military Members and Dependents and get an early start on your college funding.
The Department of Education offers Pell Grants annually, which can cover most of your tuition if you qualify. You must fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and include proof of income or tax documentation to be considered for this funding.
If you’ve applied for every scholarship and grant and still cannot cover the cost of your tuition and other fees, student loans are another option, though they require a repayment plan upon completion of your degree plan or if you’ve stopped going to school for longer than the allotted deferment period.
Now that you’ve filled out your application, been admitted, and your school finances are situated, you are ready to choose a degree plan and individual courses. If you have not decided what you specifically want to go to school for, don’t fret. You can still begin taking classes. General education courses are necessary no matter what academic path you choose.
When I first began taking classes as a military spouse, I started taking one general education course at a time. For me, jumping into a fulltime school schedule was something
I did not feel I was prepared for. I was advised to start off slow. Once I was engaged, and comfortable enough to balance my home life with my school schedule, I took more courses. For more information about what classes and how many you should take, talk to your school’s advisor.
If you are attending school face to face or taking online courses, have a tangible copy of your course syllabus accessible. I created a binder for all my studies, just like I had in high school. The binder had a divider, a two-pocket folder, and paper for each class I was taking. This helped keep my schoolwork organized and helped me stay on task.
Further, communicating with your instructors is key. If you have questions, don’t understand the materials, or have life circumstances that are putting you behind, communicate.
You may also be able to find a study group, online or in-person.
Going back to school should be a great experience. Find a school that offers your preferred degree plan. Get your finances in order and get to work. It’s only hard if you make it. Why not make it simple and fun? Getting a higher education can lead to financial success, and the knowledge you gain will be used to make our world a better place.
By John Bissonnette
results my children were displaying. I took a very objective look at the situation and understood the friction.
Familiar right? The day-to-day stress of getting our children ready for school not only begins with us groaning from the first alarm of the day — because I know there are more — to the breakfast rush, the bus timeline or car ride. Then there’s the school traffic in the morning and pickup. Not fun at all.
The decision to become a homeschool family came from not being pleased with the academic
Teachers are usually underpaid and overwhelmed at the volume of children in their classrooms. The Global Economy Report for 2018 within the USA places 14.5 students to one teacher any given day of the week. I was able to volunteer for a few months at varying grade levels ranging from elementary to secondary school and found that number difficult to teach due to a lack of parental involvement, child interest, interruptions, time, etc. I concluded that at no fault of their own, the teacher was fighting a battle, which unfortunately did not contribute to my children’s success in basic public education.
My wife and I began to scour the internet for alternative solutions. They existed everywhere! But, we had to figure out what was the right fit for our lifestyle, our intentions for the children, and even the cost. After many hours of looking at websites, speaking directly with representatives from several different options, we decided they were not the appropriate choice for us.
Here is where I can say: we decided to take a very unconventional approach to what is commonly referred to as unschooling, or an “educational method and philosophy that advocates learnerchosen activities as a primary means for learning.” In addition to adopting this method, I also added other basic educational desires we believe our children needed for today’s rapidly growing technological society.
We became the teachers.
After purchasing several books, we ended up using the “Brain Quest Workbook” and I began a system of teaching four children, at varying grade levels, simultaneously. It’s working! Our normal schedule now consists of waking up naturally around
Wake up everyone, we’ve got to get going so we’re not late for school… again.”
7-8 am and having breakfast while opening up that day’s course work.
They each work diligently while eating their choice of pancakes, bagel, eggs, cereal, etc. which they usually prepare themselves. What a life!
We are building foundation skills for them to be functional on their own while understanding the balance of work and enjoyment aspects, too. After their assignments are complete and graded by me, we continue the day with either the preplanned outdoor activity or planning for kayaking the local rivers, a trip to the museum, a hike, bike ride — the sky is literally the limit.
We usually prepare a single pot meal for the evening and head out for the day’s adventure. At night, we settle down with our individual technology pieces, play board games, and/or continue to expand our mind.
TIP: Check out the Night Sky application and you’ll turn education and family time into a memory.
So what have I accomplished by placing my children around me nearly 24/7 utilizing this homeschool family education? In my eyes, I’ve created a foundational element and understanding of family. We are learning more about each other every day and this creates a bond most families seek.
Additionally, my children’s educational needs are being met or surpassed daily and their questions are being answered to the fullest. No more, ‘sorry dear, we don’t have time for that’ and the lesson continues. Instead, there are in-depth conversations on the ‘whys’ about any topic that arises. Interestingly enough now, adults find conversations with my children ranging from 4 to 10 years old insightful and delightful.
Cheers to that!
My children are also spending time seeing the United States firsthand and are able to experience academics and sensory-based learning wherever we travel.
Last and not least, our schedule is made by us. No mandatory attendance or the ‘system’ is reporting you, no cost of uniforms
or excessive school supplies to drain money which can be spent better towards field trips on our own timeline and pace. No headache to disrupt the morning and afternoon cycles with making sure our kids are ‘on-time’ to school or we’re there to receive them at the end of the school day.
Simply put, our life is ours, and it’s working for us.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE
AN INSTITUTION THAT VALUES YOUR SERVICE!
Pacific Northwest University values your service!
Please consider an institution that shares your commitment to serve others.
It’s that time of year, again! Service members and military families are fortunate to have access to so many tax filing resources to help with the process, but before that you need to know a few things. Like, what documents are required, what are your rights as an employee or independent contractor, and of course, where can you file (for free in some cases)?
We put together some quick tax filing resources to help service members and their families expedite the process — but no, we cannot speed up how fast Uncle Sam sends your refund.
After you have gathered all of your tax documents, it is time to decide if you are going to file for yourself or use an external agency. Military ID card holders have a few options for free or discounted filing:
Installation tax centers: Look up your installation’s information by clicking here. In most cases you have the option to set an appointment or walk-in.
Military OneSource offers free tax filing support through its MilTax program. We have personally used it and it is so easy to navigate. In addition to the e-filing software, MOS also offers consultants who can assist you.
Note: In order to utilize this service, you must first establish a free account with Military OneSource.
If you work for the Department of Defense as a uniformed service member or civilian, or if you are now a retiree, DFAS (Defense Finance and Accounting System) is responsible for releasing your 2018 tax statements. All 1099Rs, 1095s and W-2s are now available, but you must have a login for myPay to access the forms if you did not already receive them by mail.
If you have other sources of income, employers had until January 31, 2019, to send out W-2s, according to the Internal Revenue Service. Examples of other items you may need in order to file are college tuition statements, bank statements, receipts and mortgage interest statements.
When in doubt, ask the professionals at Military OneSource (for free). Contact them at 800-342-9647.
IRS Free File – for any taxpayers with an income less than $66,000. Access free fillable forms after Jan. 28.
TurboTax – offers free federal and state tax filing for E1 – E5; discounted rates for E6 and above.
TaxSlayer – free federal filing for all military.
Make sure you file federal income taxes no later than April 15, 2019. In order to receive a six-month extension, you must file IRS Form 4868.
This is really the most important question, isn’t it? Despite this year’s historic government shutdown, the IRS confirms on its site that it started processing tax returns on Jan. 28 and refunds will be issued as scheduled. Check back for updates.
Also, and we cannot stress this enough — as awesome as it is to receive a nice chunk of money,
put some thought into what you plan to do with it. Installations around the U.S. have personal finance counselors and Military One Source has representatives with whom you can speak over with the phone. We’re not saying you should hold off on planning that Disney getaway — just don’t have the full refund spent before it even hits your account.
If you are in the U. S. Armed Forces, there are special tax breaks for you. For example, some types of pay are not taxable. Certain rules apply to deductions or credits that you may be able to claim that can lower your tax. In some cases, you may get more time to file your tax return. You may also get more time to pay your income tax. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Deadline Extensions.
Some members of the military, such as those who serve in a combat zone, can postpone some tax deadlines. If this applies to you, you can get automatic extensions of time to file your tax return and to pay your taxes.
Combat Pay Exclusion.
If you serve in a combat zone, your combat pay is partially or fully taxfree. If you serve in support of a combat zone, you may also qualify for this exclusion.
Moving Expense Deduction. You may be able to deduct some of your unreimbursed moving costs on Form 3903. This normally applies if the move is due to a permanent change of station.
Earned Income Tax Credit or EITC. If you get nontaxable combat pay, you may choose to include it in your taxable income. Including it
may boost your EITC, meaning you may owe less tax and could get a larger refund. Figure it both ways and choose the option that best benefits you. You may want to use tax preparation software or consult a tax professional to guide you.
Signing Joint Returns. Both spouses normally must sign a joint income tax return. If your spouse is absent due to certain military duty or conditions, you may be able to sign for your spouse. You may need a power of attorney to file a joint return. Your installation’s legal office may be able to help you.
Reservists’ Travel Deduction. Reservists whose reserve-related duties take them more than 100 miles away from home can deduct their unreimbursed travel expenses on Form 2106, even if they do not itemize their deductions.
Uniform Deduction. You can deduct the costs of certain uniforms that you can’t wear while off duty. This includes the costs of purchase and upkeep. You must reduce your deduction by any allowance you get for these costs.
ROTC Allowances. Some amounts paid to ROTC students in advanced training are not taxable. This applies to allowances for education and subsistence. Active duty ROTC pay is taxable. For instance, pay for summer advanced camp is taxable. Civilian Life. If you leave the military and look for work, you may be able to deduct some job search expenses. You may be able to include the costs of travel, preparing a resume and job placement agency fees. Moving expenses may also qualify for a tax deduction.
Tax Help. Most military bases offer free tax preparation and filing assistance during the tax filing season. Some also offer free tax help after the April deadline.
— from the IRS
For more, refer to Publication 3, Armed Forces’ Tax Guide. It is available on IRS.gov/forms any time.
By
E Pluribus Unum. I stared at these three Latin words engraved in the Great Seal of the United States of America, whose image and description I found in the Citizen’s Almanac, given to me in a large envelope that contained many other booklets explaining my rights and responsibilities as an American citizen.
“Out of many, one.” I whispered to myself.
Sitting in the Sanctuary Events Center in Fargo, N.D., the state I have been calling home for the past four years, I was surrounded by 130 other immigrants who, like me, that day became American. We represented 37 countries, from Brazil and Vietnam to Liberia and Italy. Black and white photos of immigrant families at Ellis Island were being shown on a big screen in front of us. As I looked at them, I couldn’t help but admire their courage and wonder how many of
them came from southern Italy, as I did.
Our American dream
I was about 5 years old when I began dreaming of, one day, going to see the land where freedom reigns supreme and you can become anything you want to. Every year, during summertime, we would gather to the fountain in the middle of the town square of our small city, founded by the Greeks centuries ago as their first colony in Italy. Every person in town waited a whole year for this event to happen: a son of the land would return home to tell us how he had fulfilled his American dream.
Women brought silver trays filled with rose petals and homemade confetti, a typical small Italian candy used to celebrate important occasions, a tradition that has been observed since the Roman Empire. Men, dressed in their tailored suits and coppola caps, stood together to exchange legendary stories they had heard about cowboys, policemen and saloons, vowing to go visit the far-away promised land, one day.
As for us children, we were more excited about Hershey chocolate, candies and American gum, which we knew he’d bring in abundance.
All the chatter stopped the moment we heard the honking horn of the Fiat 500 that brought our paesano home.
When the car stopped, he opened the door slowly, and stepped out with dignity and the air of somebody who had seen the world and knew truths and secrets reserved to only a few of us. We all parted to the sides to make way for his mother to walk towards her child.
Her pace was elegant and measured, and he took his fedora hat off as she got closer. Finally, she hugged him, the way only a mother, who had been painfully missing her beloved son, can hug. The only noise was made by her sobbing into his shoulder. After a few minutes of
respectful silence, she pinched his cheek and scolded him for looking thin, making all of us burst out in a reassuring laughter.
Stories heard during those gatherings shaped my imagination of what it would be like to live in this legendary country. Looking back now, I see that every step I took in my life since then — such as beginning to learn English at the age of five — has taken me to that naturalization ceremony, staring at the three Latin words that define America as a beautiful mosaic, a piece of art made of millions of small yet irreplaceable pieces, each one of them with its own heritage and history.
As part of that mosaic, I stood proud and tall while singing the StarSpangled Banner at the conclusion of the ceremony. With teary eyes and a trembling hand placed over my heart, I looked at my husband, my airman, and the other military members who were in attendance. It was not lost on me that the only reason why I, as well as my fellow new U.S. citizens, could migrate to the land of the free, was because it is home of the brave.
While the path to becoming an American citizen greatly depends on which country you are from, there are certain benefits that, as military spouses, we are granted — for example, you might be eligible for expedited naturalization.
If you wish to learn more regarding the process of becoming a naturalized citizen, or if you’d like to connect to fellow foreign military spouses, I recommend looking up the following resources:
USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services): https://www.uscis.gov/military/citizenship-family-members
Helpline (toll free)
877-CIS-4MIL (877-247-4645) Email militaryinfo@uscis.dhs.gov
Foreign Military Spouse Association: http://www.foreignmilitaryspouse.com
The Foreign Military Spouse Voice (Blog): http://www.brunellacostagliola.com/blog
Six years in the U.S. Navy gave Albert Diaz a lifetime of experiences, knowledge and friendships from coast to coast. It was a memorable time for him and his family.
When he transitioned to civilian life, he wanted more of the same.
That’s why Albert used his post9/11 GI Bill to enroll with Oregon State University Ecampus – one of America’s top-ranked providers of online education – to pursue a postbaccalaureate degree in computer science. He graduated in June 2018, and it was a considerable workload for a father of three and husband who works as a radiological analyst in the Bay Area.
How did he manage it all? We caught up with him just before graduation to hear about his experience and advice for military families.
“At one point my wife, Samantha, and I were both attending OSU Ecampus online. I was working full time, taking part-time classes, and she was taking part-time classes. We had two kids with one on the way.”
“We would take turns of who was taking care of the kids, who was doing the homework. She graduated (in 2016) and has been a great help now as I’m finishing my program.”
“Working full time and taking classes is difficult, but the organizational skills, discipline, and time-management skills I learned in the military are very helpful. The military instilled a grit in me that has helped me push forward.”
“The instructors go far beyond what you would expect. They’re really involved and care about our education, and
when they’re willing to put in the work, it helps me want to put in the work.”
“It’s a friendly community. It’s easy for us to connect and make friends, to reach out to each other, give each other information, even to motivate each other to push forward and finish the program.”
“My advice to active duty military or veterans who are considering pursuing a degree is do it. It may look intimidating, but it’s definitely worth the time and effort. There’s a strong military community at Oregon State.”
Learn more about Oregon State degrees online at ecampus. oregonstate.edu/military.
Like most parents raising children today, Matt and Keri McKinsey know the importance of limiting their kids’ “screen time.” But when the Navy couple took away smartphones and iPads at bedtime, their 10-yearold daughter outfoxed them.
“It’s been really hard because the kids push and push,” Keri McKinsey lamented. “We would put our middle daughter to bed. She would wait until we fell asleep and then would sneak into our room and take her iPad or my phone and stay up all night playing on it. For a week, I was wondering why she was such a pill to wake up to go to school in the mornings.”
Welcome to parenting in the digital age.
Studies show…
Now an ongoing study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) testing how screen time affects children’s brains should set off alarm bells in households across the country. The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study is following nearly 11,900 children, currently are 9 to 10 years old, as they grow up attached to smartphones, tablets, video games, computers and TVs.
Initial results show those children who spent more than two hours a day on screens scored lower on language and thinking aptitude tests. Those using electronic devices more than seven hours a day had
an earlier-than-expected thinning of the cerebral cortex of the brain. Since the data is preliminary, scientists do not yet know whether these changes are permanent or meaningful. But they are worried about what the next decade of research might reveal.
“In many ways, the concern investigators like I have is that we’re sort of in the midst of a natural kind of uncontrolled experiment on the next generation of children,” Dr. Dimitri Christakis, who helped develop the American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidelines on screen time told “60 Minutes.”
The NIH study adds another layer of evidence to reports showing excessive screen time boosts the risk of obesity, can cause sleep disturbances and eye strain and interferes with both play activities and child-parent interactions.
In 2010 when the iPad debuted, 28 percent of parents surveyed by USC Annenberg’s Center for the Digital Future stated their children spent too much time online. Last year, 43 percent of parents raised concerns about the amount of time their children were on the internet. The average American now spends 22.5 hours per week online, frequently via a smartphone or tablet.
Katie Davis, Ph.D., assistant professor at the University of Washington Information School, says there are legitimate safety reasons for parents to provide children with cellphones, but she
wants parents to recognize when the line between responsible use and unhealthy use becomes blurred.
“If it gets in the way of sleep, if it gets in the way of homework, if it gets in the way of social relationships, then we’re starting to look at problematic cell phone use,” she said. “Whether or not that is addiction, I’ll save that for the psychiatrists.”
McKinsey admits she is concerned about her children’s attachment to their devices and the amount of time they spend in front of a screen.
“I notice my kids spend way too much time on their digital devices,” she said. “Even after dinner tonight, my daughter has her cellphone constantly glued to her and she’s constantly checking in and looking. Instead of watching TV or a movie now as a family, everyone is off in their own room watching their devices and their Netflix or what have you.”
Once one child in a household has a smartphone or iPad, the floodgates to the digital world often open for younger siblings. McKinsey notes her 5 year-old son began using an iPad because his big sisters did so first.
“I let him start using iPads because his sisters were on theirs, but if his favorite cartoon wasn’t on yet and he was whiney, I would let him put it on [the iPad],” she said. “He gradually started using it more and more. Now if I take it away or say
no, he throws the biggest fit.”
McKinsey is not the only parent to unwittingly open up this digital Pandora’s box. Smartphones and other devices are designed to be addicting. They entice us using push notifications, bright colors, bells, swoosh sounds and instant gratification.
Setting an example
“Pulling a lever on a slot machine and pulling to refresh on a phone are very similar actions,” stated Catherine Price, author of How to Break Up with Your Smartphone: The 30-Day Plan to Take Back Your Life. “On the phone, you don’t know what is going to be waiting for you when you reach for it, which makes you reach for it even more. Most of the time when you pick up your phone, there is the something there that stimulates an emotion or in some way makes it feel like it was worth checking, even if it is the alleviation of anxiety from not checking.”
Price knows firsthand parents often fail to model healthy digital use. Her wakeup call came during the middle of the night. Price was feeding her daughter when she noticed the baby staring directly at her while she stared blankly at her phone.
“I had this vision of what I looked like from the outside. It made me sad to think about what she may be observing,” Price said.
Educators also have expressed concerns about the impact smartphones and other digital devices have on learning, from distracting students while doing homework to reducing play-based interactions. One teacher, a retired Navy spouse, suggests computers have created a creativity crisis in today’s generation of children.
“When I was first teaching, we would
do a mind map–recreate a story using only pictures. My kids would produce these amazing works of art that they would be excited to spend time on,” said the elementary teacher in Kitsap County, Wash., who asked to remain anonymous. “Now 15 years later, my students don’t care about that kind of stuff. It isn’t part of what they want to do. The ease of having images shipped to you rather than having to produce them is making a lazy society.”
So, what is a parent to do? The McKinseys have tried all the usual remedies to decrease their children’s screen time. At various times, they have banned cellphones at the dinner table and bedrooms, changed passwords on devices and attempted a multi-week break from technology.
“For us as parents, it’s hard to find what will work to get them to be less addicted to it,” Keri McKinsey said. continue reading on page 29
Mallory Moffit is one of those people. When faced with a surprise pregnancy in a place 13,000 miles away from her friends and family with a husband deployed, she eventually found courage and fearlessness whilst standing on top of one of the tallest peaks in the world, Mount LamLam, while breastfeeding her newborn son.
“It was great because it gave me a little bit of a confidence boost after when we got to the top,” she said. “And it was just really gratifying to get up there and bring him along. He’s kind of part of my Guam journey.”
That hike was most symbolic to Moffit because she was able to bring
her son along, who represented a lot of challenges she overcame, and complete it with a group of supportive people who became her extended family.
“I couldn’t have done that first year without the community,” she said. “With the amount of encouragement, help, and support that everybody gave throughout the whole year, it seemed only right to be up there with everybody.”
Becca Pretzinger, another woman who embraces Guam’s hiking culture, also recognized how the experience can bring people together. Her move to Guam came with its own sacrifice of leaving behind close family, like a niece
she still has yet to meet, but the intimacy hiking created with people helped make the separation easier. Even moreso, she liked how hiking helped build her character.
“Before coming to Guam, I hiked, but not religiously,” she said. “After a year of living on Guam, I have people that will blindly follow me into the jungle and trust that I will get them out. So for me, it has been this amazing experience to show me what I am capable of doing.”
When faced with a trying overseas assignment, some military spouses on Guam have stepped outside their comfort zones to find a stronger sense of self through hiking.Melanie de Jong enjoying Lower Sigua Falls, a popular yet difficult hike in Guam. Maddie Dolan (left) and Melanie de Jong hiking in Southern Guam.
Pretzinger shared how hiking on Guam is unique because there are not well-marked trails. Getting from one point to another means being familiar with simple landmarks, like a specific-looking tree, and relying on the change of the ecosystem for direction. Sometimes getting lost is part of the game, but it is something Pretzinger wouldn’t change.
De Jong also pointed out that she was in the best shape of her life during her tenure on Guam, largely in part to how physically challenging some hikes could be. As she pushed herself to do things she wouldn’t otherwise do, she became more fit and found comradery in the experiences.
In the end, she said, “Guam made me more adventurous.”
For people struggling with a new duty station, Moffit urged people to find whatever the new area has to offer, and make the best of it.
Find activities, such as hiking, reading, board games, bike riding, cooking, etc., that you and your children would like to “spend more time doing in the limited amount of time in life.”
Have each family member put their phones or other devices “to bed” in a basket. Anyone caught cheating, including adults, pays a penalty that goes toward a group activity.
Replace phones and other digital devices in bedrooms with alarm clocks.
Make your phone or other device less appealing by switching the screen color to grey scale and turning off notifications.
Redesign your phone or tablet so only tools appear on the home screen.
Activate text messaging autoreply and do not disturb while driving features.
Melanie de Jong is also familiar with Guam’s one-of-a-kind terrain, and how it brings people together. She also left friends, family, beloved animals, and a home behind, but Guam became one of her favorite duty stations because of the adventures it provided.
“Hiking in Guam was my saving grace,” she said.
“Jumping right in and seeing what a place has to offer, it helps you make it feel more at home because you create those memories quickly,” she said. “I think Guam would be a really difficult place to live in if you didn’t get out and do stuff.”
Pretzinger’s advice echoed some of the same sentiments. “No matter how hard it is and how you feel, you’re always going to feel better getting out and doing something even if it’s not the easy path. It’s how you make friends. It’s how you make experiences.”
Enforcing screen-time rules, however, can be especially challenging for military families who often have only one parent manning the home front.
“If I had held my ground, maybe we wouldn’t be in this situation. But at the same time, when your husband has been gone for three months and you are trying to hold it together until he gets back, it’s hard,” McKinsey said. “When they are gone, I pick my battles. It’s not that we’re bad parents. It’s that we’re trying to survive and make it through.”
I am happiest when I’m hiking,” she said. “No matter what kind of day I’ve had.”
Jordan Daugherty
17, Staten Island, N.Y., Army
Megan Green
16, Whispering Pines, N.C., Air Force
Julia Livingston
17, Okinawa, Marine Corps
Brandon Mammano
18, Mililani, Hawaii, Air Force
Troy Mills Marin
17, Brownsville, Texas, Coast Guard
Lauren McKenna
17, Meridian, Idaho, Army
Yohanna Torres Sanchez
17, Orlando, Fla. Army
Michaela-Katherine Taylor
17, Germany, Air Force
Jessica Vanstory
17, Maple Hill, Kan., National Guard
Sophie Williams
17, Japan, Navy
Gregory Davis, 17, Tampa, Fla.
Abigail Faust, 16, Cadiz, Ky.
Isaac Gonzalez, 18, Universal City, Texas
Jason Herlick, 17, Adams, Tenn.
Hunter Hotaling, 17, Lansing, Kan.
Peter Leffler, 14, Fairfax, Va.
Elisabeth Polleys, 16, Macomb, Mich.
Elisa Rich, 16, Clemmons, N.C.
Catherine Roller, 18, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Sarah Schaefer, 17, Stafford, Va.
Obadiah Scroggins, 13, Elizabethtown, Ky.
Noah Sylvia, 18, Fort Hood, Texas
Anna Torres, 15, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.
Marisol Wentling, 14, Fort Benning, Ga.
Katherine Wilton, 17, Dupont, Wash.
William Butler, 17, Virginia Beach, Va.
Jaidah Davis, 17, Okinawa, Japan
Sofia Gibson, 16, Chesapeake, Va.
Logan Harrell, 17, Stafford, Va.
Jaxson Jordan, 13, Tarawa Terrace, N.C.
Elvine Katanga, 16, Jacksonville, N.C.
Elizabeth Kellum, 17, Jacksonville, N.C.
Ethan Ley, 13, Highland Park, Ill.
Julia Livingston, 17, Okinawa, Japan
Karina Maciel, 15, Kailua, Hawaii
William Moseley, 18, Okinawa, Japan
Connor Salcido, 17, Gaithersburg, Md.
Haes Shake, 17, Hubert, N.C.
Briana Torres, 18, San Marcos, Calif.
Jacob Woodall, 14, Crestview, Fla.
Avery Alfonzo, 14, San Diego, Calif.
Zaira Alvarez, 17, Pensacola, Fla.
Danielle Bilotta, 16, Albuquerque, N.M.
Mahlon Catalina, 17, Hanford, Calif.
James Cosman, 14, Joint-Base Andrews, Md.
Ronald Eytchison, 17, Huron, Ohio
Declan Fletcher, 17, Virginia Beach, Va.
Sawyer Getschman, 16, Germany
Payton Godlewski, 17, Germany
Jack Lund, 18, Gulf Breeze, Fla.
Elisabeth Lundgren, 18, Chula Vista, Calif.
Celine Maharaj, 17, Norfolk, Va.
Mary McLellan, 17, England
Nickolas Moncilovich, 16, Drexel Hill, Pa.
Isabella White, 14, Jacksonville, Fla.
Brennan Palani Buccat, 18, Waipahu, Hawaii
Katja Grisham, 17, Auburn, Ala.
Caleb Johnson, 17, Bakersfield, Calif.
Cameron Lantagne, 16, Vancouver, Wash.
Jack Leipertz, 17, Powhatan, Va.
Maycie Madsen, 18, Richfield, Utah
Lauren McKenna, 17, Meridian, Idaho
Campbell Miller, 17, Ontario, Ohio
Clayton Miller, 15, Petersburg, Ill.
Kaley Mulligan, 13, Haven, Kan.
Matthew Ospina, 17, Marysville, Wash.
Koralys Rodriguez, 18, Statesville, N.C.
Dakota Scott, 15, Fort Greely, Alaska
Carlos Vega, 17, Leavenworth, Kan.
Rachel Warner, 17, Roosevelt, N. J.
Shaylee Barber, 16, Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Madeline Bland, 17, Alton, Ill.
Audrey Camper, 14, Talofofo, Guam
Jakob Fick, 15, Fayetteville, N.C.
Jaidyn Fountain, 13, Wichita Falls, Texas
Diana Fudge, 13, Kathleen, Ga.
Salysia Jimenez, 15, New Bern, N.C.
Joshua Kelly, 14, Italy
Brandon Mammano, 18, Mililani, Hawaii
Isabella Mollison, 18, Japan
Benjamin Rawald, 16, Del Rio, Texas
Skyler Roper, 14, Helotes, Texas
Michaela-Katherine Taylor, 17, Germany
Jonathan Thomas, 17, Germany
Brian Thompson, 16, Bel Air, Md.
Kailey Aponte, 14, Aguadilla, P.R.
Giovanni Beltran, 14, Slidell, La.
Shannon Campbell, 17, Saint Johns, Fla.
Emma Fike, 17, Fairhaven, Mass.
Joshua Fisher, 13, Bluffton, S.C.
Mackenzie Godfrey, 14, Corpus Christi, Texas
Mattie Gross, 17, Kodiak, Alaska
Emily Light, 17, Port Angeles, Wash.
Hennessy Martinez, 16, San Diego, Calif.
Kylie McGuire, 17, Hamilton, N.J.
Hazel Romero, 14, Madisonville, La.
Tyler Schultz, 16, Forestdale, Mass.
Tyler Shiflett, 17, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Erin Tabor, 13, Summerville, S.C.
Sarah Williams, 16, Macclenny, Fla.
